High-frequency, low-temperature regenerative heat exchanger

a regenerative heat exchanger, low-temperature technology, applied in the direction of domestic cooling equipment, lighting and heating equipment, machines/engines, etc., can solve the problems of low efficiency of cryogen storage tanks and accompanying insulation and thermal-structural isolators, inability to meet long-life space-based applications, and inability to meet the requirements of long-life space-based applications
US20040000149A1Inactive Publication Date: 2004-01-01RAYTHEON CO
13 Cites 45 Cited by

Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Patent Type
Applications(United States)
Current Assignee / Owner
RAYTHEON CO
Publication Date
2004-01-01
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

Smart Images

  • Figure 1
    Figure 1
  • Figure 2
    Figure 2
  • Figure 3
    Figure 3
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

A high-frequency, low-temperature regenerator (12). The regenerator (12) includes a substrate (50) having rare earth material (52) disposed thereon. In a specific embodiment, the substrate (50) has channels or pores (54) therethrough or therein to facilitate gas flow through the regenerator (12). The substrate (50) is constructed from a material, such as polyimide, polyester, or stainless steel, which is sufficient to define the geometry of the regenerator (12). The rare earth material (52) is selected and deposited on the substrate (50) in a layer (52) having thermal penetration depth that is greater than the thickness of the layer (52). The thermal penetration depth is sufficiently high to enable all of the rare earth material (52) to contribute to thermal regeneration at an operating frequency of 30 Hz. In the illustrative embodiment, the thickness of the substrate (50) is less than or equal to approximately 0.001 inches. The layer of rare earth material (52) is approximately 0.0002 inches thick. The substrate (44, 50) includes a stack of plated substrates (44) that are stacked so that spaces (54) exist between the plated substrates (44), which result in a porosity of approximately 15 percent. Dimples, pleats, or other mechanisms in the plated substrates (44) preserve the spaces (54) between the plated substrates (44). In the specific embodiment, the spaces (54) are approximately 0.00025 inches wide, and the working gas is helium.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] This invention relates to regenerative thermodynamic systems and methods. Specifically, the present invention relates to regenerators used in systems employing regenerative thermodynamic cycles, such as pulse tube and Stirling cycle cryogenic coolers and engines.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Cryogenic cooling systems are employed in various demanding applications including space, cellular telephony, and high-speed computing. Such applications often demand efficient, compact, lightweight cryocoolers capable of establishing and maintaining the lowest possible cryogenic temperatures.

[0005] Efficient cryocoolers are particularly important in space-based applications, where size, weight, and cooling requirements are especially stringent. Space-based systems, such as satellites, space shuttles, and exo-atmospheric missiles, often employ sophisticated electronics and sensors that require cryogenic cooling for optimal operation.

[0006] Stor...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More